Tag line hoist for fish lift gates



Aug. 15, 1939. A. ZWALD TAG LINE HOIST'FOR F-ISH LIFT GA'ras Filed May 25, 193'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TAG LINE HOIST FOR FISH LIFT GATES Application May 25, 1937, Serial No. 144,618

3 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

5 This invention generically relates to a selective hooking device of the type shown and described in the application of Lewis E. Knerr, filed May 25, 1937, Serial No. 144,614 and entitled Mechanism for selectively hooking segmental gate structures, patented August 9, 1938, Patent No. 2,125,928; more especially it is directed to a tag line and cable hoisting mechanism by means of which an additional length of tag line may be reeled in or bailed out to collapse or extend the pivoted claws of a hoisting device.

In the application above referred to, a hooking device traveling a passage extending centrally through the several segments of a segmental barrier, is provided with a pair of normally collapsed claws, which when extended, project into suitably arranged recesses formed in the respective segments, the claws and coacting recesses functioning to connect the hooking device with the segments, whereby the latter may be selectively operated to form an opening in the barrier at different elevations.

Heretofore the tag line hoisting drum which reels in and bails out the tag line has been operated independently of the hoisting drum.

This arrangement has not been entirely satisfactory and it is therefore the aim and purpose of this invention to provide a tag line .and cable hoisting mechanism in which the drive of the hoisting drum operates the tag line drum so that the hoisting cable and the tag line are wound and unwound at the same speed, said mechanism including means in connection with the tag line drum whereby when the hooking device suspended from hoisting cable has reached its destination an extra length of tag line may be wound upon or unwound from the tag line drum to collapse or extend the pivoted claws of the hooking device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tag line drum, which, although connected with the hoisting drum and normally rotating with it, nevertheless may be given a limited annular movement clockwise or anti-clockwise to wind and unwind a predetermined length of tag line.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hoisting mechanism of the character described whereby the pivoted claws of the hooking device may be collapsed or extended immediately prior to starting of the hoisting drum, to raise or lower the hooking device.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, to be more particularly hereinafter described and claimed. 5

With reference to the accompanying .drawings in which corresponding parts are indicated by similar reference characters:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the tag line and cable hoisting assembly constituting 10 the subject matter of this application;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating the hooking device in the well of one of the segments of a segmental gate and showing in full line the claws of the hooking device in ex- 5- tended position and in dotted line, the claws in collapsed position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail, illustrating the position of the cam roller in the cam groove of the intermediate sleeve, when the tag line drum 20 has been partially rotated to extend the claws of the hooking device;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the position of the cam roller when the tag line drum has been partially rotated to collapse the claws of 25 the hooking device; and

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section partly in elevation illustrating the tag line hoisting assembly, and the mechanism for effecting longitudinal movement of the assembly shaft. 30

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention I indicates a supporting frame,

2 a shaft earring a hoisting drum 3. The extremities of shaft 2 are journalled in bearing 4 suitably mounted in opposed relation upon the 35 frame I, as clearly shown in Fig. l of the drawings. One end of shaft 2 is connected to a driving motor 5, while the opposite end of the shaft is provided with a sprocket 6, for a purpose hereinafter to be pointed out. 40

Mounted upon bed plate 7 of frame I immediately adjacent hoisting drum 3 is .a tag line hoisting mechanism 8 which comprises a pair of oppositely disposed bearing brackets 9 adapted to rotatably journal a shaft Hi, the driven end 45 of which is encased by a sleeve H, the latter being splined to shaft ID as at I2 to permit axial movement of the shaft relative to the sleeve. Sleeve H carries a sprocket gear l3 which is in driving connection through sprocket 50 chain M with sprocket 6 on shaft 2, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

Shaft I0 is reduced adjacent its free end and encased by a driving sleeve l5, to which it is splined as at IS. The inner end of sleeve I5 is 55 provided with radially extending pins l1 having cam rollers I8, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. On shaft l0 between the inner ends of sleeves H and I5 is an intermediate sleeve 19, supporting a tag line drum 20, to which it is keyed as at 2!. One end of sleeve [9 is formed with an annular enlargement 22 having therein cam grooves 23, in which the cam rollers l8 on pins H are adapted to project, for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

The free end of shaft [0 is further reduced and provided with a slip ring 24;, secured in position by plates 25 and lock nut 26, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Slip ring 24 is connected to a rocker arm 27 suitably geared as at 28 to the shaft (not shown) of motor 29. Rocker arm 21 is provided with a cushioning extension 30, adapted to operate between set screws 3| and 32, which may be adjusted to vary the stroke of the arm 2! as will be understood without further discussion. Wound upon hoisting drum 3 is a hoisting cable 33, the free end of which connects with a hooking device 34.

This device as hereinbei'ore stated is adapted to operate in a vertically disposed passage formed centrally of a segmental barrier, the passage being produced by the aligned wells 35 of the various segments 36 which compose the barrier. Hooking device 3 2 is provided with pivotally mounted oppositely projecting claws 31 which normally are in a collapsed position, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2. Claws 3'! are actuated by a yoke 38 which when elevated, projects the claws into oppositely disposed openings 39 formed in the side walls 40 of the segmental well 35.

It will thus be seen that as yoke 38 is raised and lowered, claws 3'! will be extended and collapsed. Yoke 38 is connected to the lower end of a tag line 41 which extends between guide rollers 42 on hooking device 34 and over roller 43 to tag line hoisting drum 26.

Having outlined the structural features of this invention, its operation will be seen to be as follows: When motor 5 has been energized hoisting drum 3 will be rotated and its drive transmitted through sprocket chain l4, sprocket l3, and sleeve ii, to shaft l0 and through the shaft ID to sleeve l5, pins l2, cam rollers i3, cam grooves 23, annular extension 222 of intermediate sleeve I9, and thence to tag line drum 20, thus rotating tag line drum 29 with hoisting drum 3 to simultaneously uni-eel hoisting cable 33 and tag line 4| at the same rate of speed.

When the hooking device has been lowered into the well of the selected segment, motor 5 is deenergized to stop the rotation of drums 3 and 29. Motor 29 is now momentarily energized to move arm 2'! anticlockwise from the position shown in Fig. 5, until cushioning member 30 contacts set screw 32 whereupon motor 29 is deenergized. As arm 27 connects with slip ring 24 on the free end of shaft ill, the latter will be shifted axially causing cam rollers l8 operating in grooves '23 to travel from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that disclosed in Fig. 3, and to impart a limited rotary movement to tag line drum 2e, which movement is just sufficient to take up enough of the tag line to elevate yoke 38 and project the claws 31 of hooking device 34 into the openings 39.

After hooking device 3 and segment 35 have been connected as stated, motor 5 is again energized to rotate both drums 3 and 28, so as to simultaneously reel in hoisting cable 33 and tag line 4| until the segment has been elevated to the desired height. To restore segment 36 to its original position and release the hooking device, segment 35 is lowered by rotation of drums 3 and 20, until it reaches its initial position. Motor 29 is momentarily energized to swing arm 21 clockwise until its cushioning member 3% contacts set screw 3|, as shown in Fig. 5. This clockwise movement of arm 2'? partially rotates tag line drum 20, to unreel a length of cable sufiicient to collapse claws 3? of the hooking device and release the segment and hooking device, as will be understood without further discussion.

In conclusion it will be seen this invention provides a tag line drum normally rotating with the hoisting drum, but which may be further rotated through a predetermined angle decreasing rotation of the hoisting drum while the speed of the latter remains constant, so as to reel in or bail out a length of tag line just sufficient to either collapse or extend the grappling claws of the hooking device.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mechanism of the character described comprising a hoisting drum, a tag line drum, a hoisting cable and a tag line adapted to be wound upon the respective drums, a constant speed drive from the hoisting to the tag line drum to reel and unreel the cable and tag line at the same rate of speed, said drive including means to vary the rotary movement of the tag line drum relative to that of the hoisting drum, said means including a shaft susceptible of rotary and axial movement, a driving sleeve connected to the shaft, an intermediate sleeve keyed to said tag line drum and loosely mounted on the shaft, interacting camming means carried by the sleeves, whereby axial movement of the shaft imparts a limited angular movement to the tag line drum, and electro-mechanical means connected to the shaft to transmit axial movement thereto.

2. A mechanism of the character described comprising a hoisting drum, a tag line drtun, a hoisting cable and a tag line adapted to be wound upon the respective drums, a constant speed drive between the hoisting and tag line drums to reel and unreel the cable and tag line at the same rate of speed, said drive from the hoisting drum including means to the tag line drum to vary the rotary movement of the tag line drum relative to that of the hoisting drum, said means including a shaft susceptible of rotary and axial movement, a tag line drum, a driving sleeve connected to the shaft and an intermediate sleeve keyed t0 the tag line drum and loosely mounted on the shaft, interacting camming means carried by the driving and the intermediate sleeve, said means including a cam radially extending from the driving sleeve and coacting with a camming groove in the intermediate sleeve whereby axial movement of the sleeve from the shaft imparts a lim ited angular movement to the tag line drum, and an electro-inechamcal means for axially moving the shaft.

3. A mechanism of the character described comprising a hoisting drum, a tag line drum, 2. hoisting cable and a tag line, adapted to be wound upon the respective drums, a constant speed positive drive from the hoisting drum to the tag line drum to reel and unreel the tag line at the same ratr of speed; means within the drive from the hoisting drum to the tag line drum to vary the rotary movement of the tag line drum relative to that of the hoisting drum, said means including a shaft mounted for rotary and reciprocatory movement, a drive member connected to one end 75 of said shaft and adapted to impart a rotary movement thereto, a driving sleeve keyed to said shaft, an intermediate sleeve keyed to the tag line drum and loosely mounted on said shaft, interacting camming means carried by the driving and the intermediate sleeves, said means including a cam radially extending from said driving sleeve and coacting with a camming groove in the intermediate driving sleeve whereby axial movement of the sleeve with the shaft imparts a limited angular movement to the tag line drum, and an electro-me'chanical means connected with the free end of said shaft for axially moving the latter, said means including a motor driven arm loosely connected with the free end of the shaft and means to limit the movement of said arm to a predetermined angle.

ADOLPH ZWALD. 

